Former England Assistant Coach Steve Holland Appointed Yokohama Marinos Head Coach

Steve Holland, who previously served as an assistant coach for England, has been named the new head coach for the Yokohama Marinos, a team in Japan’s J-League. He served as England’s assistant manager for eight years, working alongside Gareth Southgate. His departure from the Three Lions occurred last summer, coinciding with Southgate’s resignation. During their tenure, Holland contributed to England reaching the finals of the European Championship in both 2021 and 2024, securing runners-up positions. The 54-year-old’s sole prior experience as a manager was with Crewe Alexandra between 2007 and 2008. Holland stated his objectives for the club: “Our challenge is to win the title again,” he remarked. “We will play aggressive attacking football. We want to build a team that can compete for the title with consistency and high competitiveness.” He takes over from Harry Kewell, a former midfielder for Liverpool and Leeds, who departed the club in July following a series of unfavorable outcomes. Last season, the Marinos concluded their campaign in ninth position and have not secured a title victory since 2022. The club is affiliated with the City Football Group, an organization that manages various teams including Manchester City, New York City FC, and Melbourne City FC. Meanwhile, Southgate has remained unemployed since his resignation in July. He indicated in October that he intends to take at least a year-long break from football management.